Reading 1 Sir 48:1-14
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You brought a dead man back to life
from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.
You sent kings down to destruction,
and easily broke their power into pieces.
You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.
You heard threats at Sinai,
at Horeb avenging judgments.
You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,
and a prophet as your successor.
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
And who falls asleep in your friendship.
For we live only in our life,
but after death our name will not be such.
O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!
Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,
wrought many marvels by his mere word.
During his lifetime he feared no one,
nor was any man able to intimidate his will.
Nothing was beyond his power;
beneath him flesh was brought back into life.
In life he performed wonders,
and after death, marvelous deeds.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes round about.
His lightnings illumine the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
All who worship graven things are put to shame,
who glory in the things of nought;
all gods are prostrate before him.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Alleluia Rom 8:15bc
R. Alleluia, alleluia.You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 6:7-15
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
DARE TO SAY "ABBA"
"This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.' " –Matthew 6:9
The writer of Sirach exclaimed: "How awesome are you, Elijah!" (Sir 48:4) Yet the awesome Elijah is only a creature of the totally awesome God. "Let us praise Him the more, since we cannot fathom Him, for greater is He than all His works; awful indeed is the Lord's majesty, and wonderful is His power" (Sir 43:29-30). "To whom can you liken God? With what equal can you confront Him?" (Is 40:18)
Jesus instructs us to address as "Father," "Abba," "Daddy," this awesome, infinite, all-holy Creator-Savior God (Mt 6:9). This is shocking and would be considered blasphemous by anyone who does not accept Jesus' divine authority to authorize such an unprecedented way of addressing God.
Trusting in Jesus, we dare to address God as our "Abba." The Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts "Abba" (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15). In the intimacy and security of Abba's love (Rm 5:5), we are freed from a "spirit of slavery" leading us "back into fear" (Rm 8:15). We glory in the freedom of being sons and daughters of Abba.
Jesus taught: "This is how you are to pray:" Abba! (Mt 6:9)
| PRAYER: | Abba... |
| PROMISE: | "During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power." –Sir 48:12-13 |
| PRAISE: | "For I am the Lord, your God, Who grasp your right hand; it is I Who say to you 'Fear not, I will help you' " (Is 41:13). Alleluia! |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment